![]() 1 In short, indigenous and Afro-Colombian persons in Colombia are under tremendous threat and in urgent need of national as well as international protection and assistance. This bold initiative, however, has not ensured their communities’ protection against targeted attacks by the armed actors. In several localities, these groups have formed “peace communities”, declaring their neutrality in the conflict and asserting their entitlement to protection as civilians. ![]() ![]() Moreover, once displaced, these already marginalized groups face further discrimination, including in gaining access to protection and assistance. Despite their having been granted collective land title, they are especially vulnerable to being pushed off their land, which is coveted by armed groups for the cultivation of African palm and other lucrative crops, including coca. The United States Congress is to be commended for shining a spotlight on their plight, which has not received the attention it should either from the Colombian Government or the international community.īecause indigenous persons and Afro-Colombians have a special historical attachment to the land they inhabit, displacement is particularly disruptive and traumatic for them, cutting them off from their source of livelihood and undermining their cultural identity. ![]() In recent months, thousands more have been forcibly displaced and the risks to their physical security and survival have increased dramatically. Disproportionately affected are Colombians of African descent and indigenous persons. In Colombia today, there are between 2 and 3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) uprooted from their homes by the longstanding armed conflict. ![]()
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